Saturday, March 24, 2012

2012 Topps Opening Day #196 Cole Hamels

One Sentence Summary: The offense came alive against a split squad Red Sox team, downing the Sox by a score of 10-5.

What It Means: The Phils scored a spring-high 10 runs while banging out 13 hits against a bunch of pitchers who most likely won't be on the Postseason roster come October when the Phils and Sox face off in the '12 World Series. (You read that right.)

Cole Hamels allowed two runs and four hits in his four innings of work. Jake Diekman extended his spring scoreless streak to five innings in five appearances.

Featured Card: Hamels will start the season as the fourth pitcher in the team's rotation in order to allow him to start the team's home opener. It's a nice little gesture by Charlie Manuel to the 2008 World Series MVP as Hamels begins what could possibly (but hopefully not) be his final year with the Phillies. This is his Opening Day card, which is identical to his card in Series 1, less the distracting foil.